Blocking Mode on the Galaxy S5

Samsung's do-not-disturb option is oddly named but easy to use

Sometimes Galaxy S5 features need quite a bit of explanation. This isn't one of those times. Blocking Mode is a poorly named but extremely useful function that serves as the phone's do-not-disturb mode. You'll find it in Settings>Personalization, or as one of Samsung's numerous quick settings in the notification pull-down.

Once there, you'll need to start with the main toggle switch. Off is off, on is on. Once on, you've got a few options:

Block incoming calls.

Turn off notifications.

Turn off alarm and timer.

Set time (ie set what time you want blocking mode to turn on automatically).

Allowed contacts (a whitelist of contacts who can get through to you).

You can mix and match the options as you see fit. Want to kill notifications but allow any and all calls? Have at it. Kill calls and notifications but let your alarm clock still wake you? Sure thing.

Really, Blocking Mode has just about everything you need in this sort of feature. We'd like to see an option to set schedules based on the day of the week, but that's not a deal-breaker.

So if you're looking for a do-not-disturb function on your Galaxy S5, this is the place to find it.

This opt. Is also in the S4. I find it USELESS! You have to block all our none. It would be Bete if you could block individuals phone numbers. The auto reject list, is also useless. It only sends the calm to your voice mail. I want to totally BLOCK some numbers.

It's most sure what you mean. It blocks all calls but those you want to let through. Are you looking to create an exclusion list rather than and inclusion list? I would find that more cumbersome as those I don't want to let bother me while sleeping is a much larger list than those I want to wake me up.

How about an option of a block list for people in addition to this functionality. Like being able to block calls from a certain number vs a specific time vs only during the time do not disturbed is being utilized.

is there a way to toggle this with say Llama based on location, etc. or some other app? Preferably Llama as that is what I currently use. I know you can kinda duplicate this with settings in Llama but it would be handy to use this instead as a one stop thing.

With iOS, you can block individual phone numbers - not just individual ones within your Contacts list, but any incoming call (say, from a robocall or unsolicited sales call) or text. I don't see this 'fine tuning' ability in this option.
Any practical experience?

there's my favorite Blocking Mode--this is one reason why I decided to stick with SAMSUNG--because others do not have it yet I think, but in this S5 it is ALL or NO ONE(I cannot find the ALLOWED LIST when I went to check out the demo in MediaMarkt). ... i guess I'll be keeping my S3 until you sort it out.
Samsung, I have 300+ people in my contact list and I need to block only 5 people. Why don't you switch that ALLOWED LIST to BLOCK LIST?

I've tried StopContacts ( http://www.bandst.com/stopcontacts/ ) and i think that a well developed 3rd party app is a better solution than the S5 feature. Also StopContacts allow to set time for blocking mode, select unwanted contact calls and anonymous calls, etc.

I had a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini & S4. One or both had the ability to add a phone n7mber to a block list. Like all thing good on phones these days, it has been removed! I found it helpful to block idiots and spammers! Likely, the spammers are paying the Android OS people to nix the function.

Why doesn't the Samsung blocking mode work for all applications? For example, I have Whatsapp on my phone. When blocking mode is active, texts and calls don't come through (unless from my designated allowed list) - BUT notifications from Whatsapp still ring loud and clear. ??? This isn't a very useful feature if it doesn't silence all app notifications. Help?